I bought My Dream Lancia! | Lancia Delta Integrale EVO 1 | Ben Collins
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Published 2023-11-19
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Ooops. I did it again. OK so i'm obsessed with the Lancia Delta Integrale. I love the styling and I love the handling. Having driven all the different variants of the fully endowed 16V machines, I’ve rounded on what I believe to the ultimate spec and decided to restore (!) a barn find dream car. And this one is a real belter!!
The Delta Integrale is fairly unique in that way that it tackles roads because it has a wheel at the extremity of each corner, there’s no overhang, making it incredibly well-planted. In its O.G. suspension configuration it also permits enough weight transfer to pitch the car in at extraordinary speed, without understeering off into the vegetation.
With my early model “16 valve” Delta, that trait of being able to point the car anywhere is really pronounced because of the narrower track suspension. It’s a proper little ASBO, ever eager to kick off – and the sound in the cabin is more raucous. And I love the seating position in the old school 90’s disco-tastic seats.
The Evo 2, which everyone raves about, has Recaro seats that sit higher in the cabin and my head rubs the ceiling, so even though the chair has more support you still feel like you’re riding on the car as opposed to sitting deep inside it (which I much prefer)
Step in the Evo 1.. it ticks all the boxes for me. It has the wider suspension and increased power of the Evo 2, with that mad boxey bodywork – but it retains the original seats. And the seats in this barn find are absolutely stunning – black leather with matching trim in the headliner. It reminds me of the Ferrari BB – an all-time classic for looks and Ferrari brawn.
So begins the journey of returning this little classic to its former glory. A lot of Evos I’ve driven have been heavily modified, especially the ones out of Japan on shortened shock absorbers with less travel and a stiffer ride. Totally unnecessary. The stiffer ride is deeply annoying on country roads and defies what makes the Delta handle so well in the first place: weight transfer. If the weight doesn’t shift around, you can’t steer the damn thing properly because you don’t get enough load on the outside wheel which is doing the work.
This Evo 1 is currently on it original shocks and springs and it glides like a bar of soap down a butter mountain. The car is well supported but it can roll. I’m at great pains to maintain that special original feeling and am hoping the shocks are salvageable. If they aren’t then I’ll be working tirelessly to find a modern version that matches the original.
Despite my moaning against over-tuning… I’m going to tune the engine a little bit. Just some extra pepper to raise the bhp to around 270bhp which is a fairly sweet spot for this 2.0 motor. And with the Evo 1 it’s easier to do because it uses a larger Garrett turbo than the one in the Evo 2, which also has to contend with a catalytic converter.
It’s going to take some time and I’m delighted to be supported on this project by Tanc Barratt who has forgotten more about these cars than I will never know. As you’ll soon discover, his team of artisans are laser-focused on restoring every detail of the Delta and it’s going to be a special process.. so long as the car behaves itself and by that I mean doesn’t turn out to be a rusted out box of frogs 😉
#lanciadelta #lancia #rally
All Comments (21)
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Loving the Lancia! What would you like to see me do with this car? 👇 Thanks to carVertical: www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?utm_source=infl&…
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hell yes, Ben!
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Ben, I know you'll never see this but goddamn you take to presenting so naturally. Something that may seem as innocuous as talking in front of a camera is actually deceptively daunting and yet Ben pulls it off like such a natural. So massively impressed with you. I couldn't hit the proverbial "like and subscribe" any faster.
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To think that this man has been the silent actor of Top Gear for soo many years, even though he has so much presence as a host himself seems to have been such a waste. To see you flourish as a host is so awesome. You're doing awesome Ben!
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As an italian, every time I see a video about Lancia and the people loving them, my eyes tear a bit. I return to the time where I was a little child getting to know all this new motorsport categories and after F1, I discovered rally and the Lancia Delta Integrale was one of the first rally cars I discovered and loved it ever since. I wish you the best with this car and enjoy every single second with it.
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Please please tell me this is going to be a full on series of videos, watching this absolute beast getting restored back to pure awesomeness. 👍😁
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I really like the way you talk about the experience of driving. You describe the car’s characteristics so well. Great looking car by the way, you found a very good one.
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My old Integrale comes into view @2:15 M665 GGH which I bought in 2000 - a "Dealers Collection" which was one if the last 170 odd cars made fir Europe. A one lady owner car from Switzerland. Sold to the current owner in around 2005. It's still as nice as it was when I owned it.
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I used to work for the manufacturer (Fiat Auto UK) in the Integrale era, and was fortunate in my job that I got to drive these beasts around when they were new.
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I lived in Arganil from 1989 to 1992, Lancia came to do the Recce and then destroyed all others. The stages were hard and twisted but the Deltas absolutely dominated. The 4WD was a terrific machine, the Integrales that followed were monsters.
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Ben taught myself and a few military colleagues how to drive very fast on UK roads. The best course I ever did in my 25yr military career. The guy is an unbelievable driver although he's utterly lacking the fear gene 😁
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Black is one of the best colours for that car shape. Well wear Ben, seriously envious 😄
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One and half minutes in and this channel has exceeded my expectations. I'm really glad I subscribed! (who knew everyones favourite racing driver is also an excellent presenter)
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You’re really doing this YouTube thing right, Ben! I love how you respond to as many comments as possible, I’m sure that will get more difficult as you gain more subscribers but for now, I think its awesome! Congratulations on the new wheels, that thing looks like it’ll be a riot to drive!
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Some people say he’s never driven an Italian car and that he never even met Chris Evans… All we know
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I´ve never seen so much Delta´s at one place. Fantastic
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An 8v still in our family with 9k on the clock all original allways a place in my heart
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Absolutely brilliant to listen to you talk so eloquently about the dream car of my teenage years, the incredible Integrale.
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I don't know about everyone else But this the sort of thing I love seeing Ben do Appeals to all car nuts from 80s and 90s!
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A man after my own heart! An Integrale! Keep the build honest and original. A few subtle ‘tweeks’ to tighten up performance and handling for modern roads otherwise keep her looking standard. She’s still quick enough compared to some modern hot hatches considering she’s 30 plus years old.
